Freecycle- people asking for too much?

MrsE_2

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Come off it. If you're living on the breadline, you should be doing all you can to survive. Not asking people for freebies that you don't need.

No one NEEDS a Wii or a conservatory (we've had requests for a conservatory three times in the last week). And if you need something to sit on, it does not have to be a cream leather suite.

Ask me for something you need, and I'll think about it, but I'm not going to fund your frivolities.

I've never used freecycle, but I thought it was about recycling & passing on unwanted stuff rather than chucking it away?

If people want to "ask" for luxuries then its up to them, I doubt many are going on freecycle.

BUT your tone comes across as condescending, its not about the better off throwing their cast offs to the poor they deem most deserving, is it???

flybynight

i must say all the people saying about broken things, i have a confession........................................................i am a serail fixer, i can't help it. I have been known to get broken things off of freecycle (usually either computers or electrical bits, but it was once a garden strimmer) fix them and put them bakc on freecycle. I always make it clear in my email that i want it for "tinker value" rather than because i need it and request that people contact me if nobody else wants it. but you would be amazed how many people are surpsied when the same thing appears 3 days later in working order.
ho hum....... its cheaper tham meccano

porlock

I've given up on Freecycle as well. I offered a TV recently, and had two no-shows. At this point, I actually got quite scared, as I was home alone that week, and I felt that I had essentially just got in touch with random strangers, given them the distinct impression that I had just bought a new TV, and then told them exactly where I lived and when I'd be about.

I'm not going to bother again.

linni

I wish you lived near me Flybnight as I always have loads of stuff that needs fixing!

flybynight

you'd be amazed how much stuf i end up being given at work as a last ditch attmept before they buy a new one, in the past couple of months there has been a radio controlled helicopter that wouldnt hover, nintendo Ds with a busted screen and hinge, a bathroom door (had to go fix this one in situ.... but it go me lasagne)3 laptops, a cctv system, the front seat release lever on a fiesta zetec, a door lock and the element on an oven. i enjoy tinkering wiht stuff and people get their stuff fixed.. win win situation. (that and youget a load of homemae cakes )

hawkwinddotcom

When offering something I state

"No carbooters or resellers
Please and thank you' are welcome
I will not respond to one liners
Do Not leave a phone number as I will not be calling you"

I usually have to reject a large percentage.

dizziblonde

I miss the Derby group - there were a few on there who were constantly pulling the sob story routine (we're talking two or three times a week). I think the best one was someone claiming their child hadn't got a PS3 for Xmas, but someone had bought him a PS3 game so could anyone please donate a brand new games console so my little boy doesn't just have to spend Xmas day holding a game in his hand he can't play.

It got full marks for sheer brass necked cheek and attempts to emotionally guilt but was blooming well ridiculous considering in the same month they'd asked for a washer drier (not in white though because it won't go with my kitchen), a widescreen TV and a black or grey sofa - that level of pickiness and I think every post had been prefaced with "I'm a single mum and haven't got any money so can I have..."

I did actually give away a half-working PS2 on there (we had two) - immediately about 50 wanteds popped up asking for the same and funnily - someone who "does some stuff with the premature babies" wanted that one... they'd be highly developed if they were using a PS2 that young!

Current group I'm on seems more regulated in terms of ridiculous asks - but it lacks the sheer amusement of "they're asking for WHAT now?" that used to get me checking my Derby emails every day.

I also pick who to gift to based on who doesn't use text speak and uses the word please spelt correctly (not plz because that drives me nuts).

50plusabit

There is someone on my local group, asking for a boat and outboard, must be sea-worthy and motor working !!!!!!!
Another asking for in ground swiming pool pump! sorry but if you can afford a swimming pool you can damn well afford a pump.

JoolzS

I simply don't read any of the posts on my freecycle group. I offer things, read the emails, then pick someone on a gut instinct. I've been using that gut instinct for a couple of decades when it comes to buying cars and I trust it.

I really don't care if someone uses freecycle to find things they can sell at car-boot sales, or in freeads. The item offered is still being recycled and hasn't been dumped into a landfill. I can't see that as anything but good.

Julie

linni

When I 'offered' a load of childrens items, I had a reply from a charity, including the website address, which had some photos of the staff. I offered the items to them and commented that I couldn't see them in the picture, and surprise, surprise, they never replied!